Elena's Kite

One of my students at the art center is a little girl named Elena who started coming to classes in her wheelchair with her dad at age 2. She eventually was able to walk using two crutches.

This season she began coming to my classes alone, using only one crutch. She's done so very well. When the other kids ask her why she wears a brace, she tells them, "I can't walk very well. My leg hurts."

This class was based on a story called "The Leaf and the Wind" and for our final project, we made mini kites out of tissue paper shaped like leaves. Elena looked a little apprehensive and she told me, "Ms Kim, I can't fly a kite because I can't run. My brother has a kite, but I don't because I can't run."

I said, "Don't worry. You will be able to fly this little kite."

So we took our kites into the larger classroom next door and thanks to fellow teacher, Jewel's brilliant idea, we set up a huge fan and Elena stood without her crutch in front of the fan with her little kite, flying it.

She was laughing and smiling and so very happy. The other kids were running and swinging their kites around and taking turns in front of Elena's fan with her. I told the kids that they had earned their reward of playing in my sandbox for the last few minutes of class if they wanted, but little Ashlynn, another student, looked at me and said, "Ms Kim, I think flying our kites would be much better use of our time."

Elena's mother came to pick her up and she just stood there watching Elena for a long time. They had been to the kite festival a few days before and it had been disappointing for Elena but now she had made her own kite that she could fly by herself. Elena's mother was so happy. I told them to stay for as long as they wanted in front of the fan. They were still there when I left to go home.

 

Thanks, you guys. I feel I am the one who is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such amazing kids. They inspire me.

 

I have never asked any further about her condition. I figure she will tell me one day if she wants to. I have a feeling Elena will run someday because of her strong spirit. It wouldn't suprise me to see her in the papers as a world class athlete when she grows up because she's got that kind of determination in her.

The first day she came to my class, I brought everyone out in the hall for a drink from the water fountain. She threw her crutch down and climbed up to the fountain herself. That day Jewel, who had been her teacher at age 2 when she used a wheelchair, was in the hallway and was so excited to see what Elena was doing, she was about to burst so about 4 or 5 other instructors who heard how excited Jewel was walked out into the hallway to see Elena get a drink from the fountain on her own. They were all just standing there in amazement.

Elena's in physical therapy and since she's been in my class, she's now able to stand without her crutch and she's brave enough to walk without it from one table to another for about 10 feet or so. These are giant strides for her. The hardest thing for me was to watch her fall and not pick her up, but I promised her mom I would help her get ready for kindergarden, where she needs to be independent. I give her some encouragement and she just pops back up and keeps going.

 

Funny you should say that. Elena's middle name is Joy. ...really. <3